Ernest o



(N 0 Mb'deh) E. ALDRICH.

GATE.

Patented July so. 1889..

N m'cns. Plwloblhognphnr. Washington. ac,

LII.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST o. ALDRICH, OF LooK HAVEN, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPECI'EICIITION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,986, dated July 30, 1889.

Application filed April 22, 1889- Serial No. 308,134. (No model.)

To all whom if; may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERNEST O. ALDRICH, of Lock Haven, in the county of Clinton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to that class of gates which may be opened and closed by a person 7 from a wagon or other vehicle.

It also relates to the class known as selfclosing gates.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved gate. Fig. 2 shows the same with the cam-hinge support located above the ground. Fig. 3 is avertical section of the cam detached along the line y 'y of Fig. 6. Fig. 4 is a vertical central section of the cam and rollers of my improved hinge detached, showing the pivot-pin and support in perspective. Fig. 5 is a section of the cam on the line a; a; of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 illustrates the cam levers and connections detached.

Refering to the letters upon the drawings, A indicates posts between which the gate B swings, C a two-way latch, and D the rear upright of the gate-frame. The upper end of the post A is provided with a hinge of any ordinary description which will permit vertical play of the gate.

E indicates a hinge-support which 7 is located in the ground in a nearly-perpendicular line with the upper hinge. If, however, for any causesay freezing, for instanceit were desirable to elevateit above the ground, a bracket projecting from the post might be substituted. (See Fig. 2.) In this case it would be well to use any sort of upper and lower hinges which would permit a vertical play of the post within them, while the weight of the gate would rest mainly upon the support E. Upon the top of said support is fixed at right angles to the gate when closed a cross-arm F, at each end of which is journaled a roller G.

I'I indicates an upright pin projecting from the support E, and forming a pivot for the cam I and the post D. This cam is illustrated as a disk; but any change in form is not material. At the lower end of the upright D is provided a cross-arm K and rollers L, similar to the cross-arm and rollers above mentioned, but which, when the gate is closed, are at right angles to the said crossarm and rollers.

It will be observed that the rollers Gtravel on the inclined surfaces M M of the cam I and the rollers L upon the opposite inclined surfaces N N and that the lines passing through the lowest points formed by the conjunction of each of said inclined surfaces, respectively, are at right angles to each other. By this means, when the rollers G are dead the rollers L are also at rest, and the gate to which the latter are fixed is then closed.

0 indicate levers at the side of the roadway on each side of the gate. These levers are preferably vertical; but any device adapted to perform the office may be used. The short arm of each of said levers is connected by one of the wires P P to the side of the cam farthest from it. It is obvious, however, that any well-known connection between the cam and the levers may be em-- continued rotation of the cam swings the gate until the rollers G enter the notches Q Q and stop it. \Vhen the cam begins to rotate, its tendency is to carry the gate at once with it. This, but for the rollers L and the inclines N N, would create a binding between the parts of the latch and foul the gate. These rollers permit the gate to yield untilit can clear the latch, and then automatically recover their normal position on the cam. A slight pull upon the opposite lever 0' will now release the rollers G from the notches Q Q, and the gate will close itself. If rigidly secured to the cam I, the gate might fail to latch on swinging shut; but the addition of the upper cam-surfaces and the rollers moving thereon insures against such failure. The gate can of course be opened by lifting the latch with the hand, and upon being released Will automatically close, as above indicated. My

hinge is thus adapted to be used with small 'a gate, of a pivotal support therefor, rollers upon the top of said support and the bottom I of said post, and a cam between the two, said cam being provided with surfaces of alternate inclination, substantially as set forth,

3. The combination, with the rear post of a gate having rollers journaled in thelower end thereof, of a pivotal support beneath said .post provided with rollers, a separate cam between said support and said post, hand-levers on each side of the gate, and connections between the levers and said cam, whereby the gate may be opened and closed, substantially as set forth.

4. In a gate-hinge, the combination, with a support and rollers journaled therein, of an upper part adapted to be secured to a gate,

rollers journaled therein, and a separate cam provided with ways of alternate inclination substantially as set forth.

In testimony of all which I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ERNEST o. ALDRICH.

Witnesses:

LOUIS K. POUST, CHAS. H. THIELE. 

